BOT Unanimously Approves Residential Housing

Last Thursday was a triumphant day for the future plans for growth at USF St. Petersburg. Regional Chancellor Karen A. White presented the $100 million USF St. Petersburg Campus Master Plan to the USF Board of Trustees, USF community and members of the media.

After full review of the plan and a virtual campus tour, the Board of Trustees unanimously passed plan. Immediately after, the Board discussed and approved financing plans for the first phase of both student residential housing and the parking garage.

“Much has been accomplished at USF St. Petersburg during the last 40 years, and this plan will guide and support the future expansion of research, academics and student life,” White said. “In addition, there is great community interest and energy behind campus expansion in St. Petersburg. There is excitement about what we’ve become and what we can achieve in the next 10 years.”

During the meeting, Dick Beard, chairman of the USF Board of Trustees, expressed support for the growth anticipated at USF St. Petersburg and other regional campuses. “Over the next five years, there may be 30,000 students on the regional campuses. These campuses are becoming more and more important to all of us. My view is that these regional campuses will be the engine that drives the USF system for long-term growth.”

>> Read: Full Article

Message from the Regional Chancellor: SACS Update

From Karen A. White:

At the USF Board of Trustees meeting, President Genshaft announced our anticipation that the Southern Association for Colleges and Schools will table our application for accreditation. Though we have already received affirmative comment about our academic excellence and highly qualified faculty, the association wishes to have more extensive conversation about its interpretation of university campuses that are part of a system. We do not expect word from the association about our application until its discussion is resolved.

USF St. Petersburg’s accreditation continues under that of the USF system. The process for the reaffirmation for the USF system is on schedule, and site visits are scheduled for the system and all of its constituent campuses for April 2005.

I am deeply proud of our academic enterprise – our faculty and the quality of our curriculum.  Many of you know intimately the intensive work required for our SACS application.  The initial application sent in February stood nearly three feet tall and was contained in 10 four inch binders.  That tower of notebooks represents the heart of our academic mission and hundreds of hours of work. As the first regional campus of the State University System, USF St. Petersburg is singularly accustomed to leading peers along new paths.  It is my hope that we will continue this tradition of pioneering.

214 Students to Graduate at Fall Commencement

As finals wind down and faculty finish grading exams, 214 USF St. Petersburg students are looking forward to Fall 2004 Commencement when they cross the stage to receive their diploma. USF St. Petersburg will award a total of 335 degrees.

President Judy Genshaft, Regional Chancellor Karen A. White and others will share the stage at the Mahaffey Theater this Sunday at 2 pm to impart final words of wisdom and recognize the achievements of those graduating.

Graduating senior Rene Luellon will be recognized as a King O'Neal Scholar for maintaining a 4.0 cumulative grade point average at the undergraduate level. The Outstanding Graduate will be announced at commencement.

Woolard and Leavitt Highlight Alumni Luncheon

More than 100 guests attended the 4th Annual Alumni Community Luncheon to hear USF Athletic Director Doug Woolard and USF Football Coach Jim Leavitt share their vision and excitement for the future of USF Bulls football. The event was hosted by the Pinellas County Alumni Chapter.

"I'm more fired up than I have ever been," Leavitt said. "There are a lot of people to build this program with and I know you'll see a really good team come out next year."

Woolard continued, "We've set some lofty goals and we need your help to accomplish them," referring to the USF Bulls' recent relocation to the Big East conference.  More than 30 percent of football season ticket holders and he emphasized his hope for that total to grow.

Leavitt and Woolard also discussed the importance of academics as USF continues to strengthen as a Research I university. Woolard said, "My goal is to make sure we can provide the best partnership possible for athletics and academics because they are equally important. "

Regional Chancellor Karen A. White kicked off the luncheon with exciting updates for USF St. Petersburg including its Campus Master Plan, with residence halls and a parking garage that will include a Barnes & Nobles on the ground floor.

After the presentations, guests had the opportunity to ask Woolard and Leavitt questions ranging from morning football game times to how Leavitt anticipates UF's new football coach Urban Meyer might affect USF recruiting.

For more information on Alumni Programs, contact Sue Bebernitz, Coordinator of Alumni Programs at 553-4561 or sbebern@spadmin.usf.edu.                      

See: Photo Gallery

New Development Officer Begins

The USF Foundation and USF St Petersburg are pleased to announce the appointment of Jon Kile as the new Associate Director of Development for USF St. Petersburg, effective Monday, Dec. 6.

Kile comes to us from the USF College of Engineering, where he has served the last four years as Assistant Director of Development. Before that, his experience includes working in the Annual Giving offices here at USF, at Florida State University and at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana.

At USF St. Petersburg, Kile will coordinate all the fundraising efforts on campus, and will be the contact for all USF Foundation issues. His office is located in the William House (WMS 200) and he can be reached at 553-4824 or jkile@stpt.usf.edu.

Regional Chancellor Karen A. White said, “The Foundation and many individuals from this campus have invested significant energy to find just the right professionals to advance our fundraising efforts. Jon is the first hire of a critical team, and will work closely with our colleges to realize our campus’ top priorities.”

In addition to Kile, the search will continue for an Executive Director of Development. That position will be re-advertised nationally and we look forward to hosting candidates on campus early spring semester.

Of related interest, the USF Foundation has named Barbara Burnham as the new Assistant Vice President of Constituent Development & Annual Giving. She will oversee the fundraising efforts for USF’s colleges and campuses, including USF St. Petersburg and the College of Marine Science. Barbara will work closely with Kile and USF St. Petersburg’s Executive Director, when that person is on board. 

Students Showcase Their Life-Like Animal Robots

Students in a new robotics program recently demonstrated how the life-like animal robots they created can interact with and mimic real animals. Robots were created in two undergraduate courses that integrated a multidisciplinary approach of biology, behavior, engineering and art.

Behavioral Robotics, taught by Sarah Partan, PhD, and Biological Robotics, taught by Deby Cassill, PhD, started this semester thanks to a $10,000 grant that Partan received from USF Center for Teaching Enhancement.

Students in Behavioral Robotics studied the behavior, movement and interactions of animals to design and build robotic lizards and squirrels. The robotic squirrel could bat its tail to simulate a real squirrel giving a warning sign and the lizard could to do mini-push ups, a territorial mechanism.

“As a psychology student, it was interesting to combine something so technically advanced with psychology and study something that has possibly never been looked at before,” senior Bridgette Puertas said.

Partan and Cassill said they wanted to implement the bio-robotics program to integrate information technology and engineering into the undergraduate curricula. Both professors have also written about $2 million in National Science Foundation (NSF) grants to fund equipment for the courses.

>> WTVT Ch. 13 and WTSP Ch. 10 featured stories

Campus Recognizes World AIDS Day

Various campus student organizations, clubs, offices and departments created quilt panels that were displayed at Harborside in honor of Worlds AIDS Day, Wednesday, Dec. 1.

“These handmade panels reflect the importance of our continued awareness of the AIDS epidemic,” Katherine McKay said.

To commemorate the day, a booth offered educational materials, red ribbons and condoms. Students also created a brochure highlighting important HIV facts called “World AIDS Day, Learn How to Protect Yourself.”

Health Educator Sandy Blood and students Anita Ellana and Leanna Garibova coordinated the display.

Faculty and Staff Celebrated at Holiday Open House

More than 100 faculty and staff enjoyed good conversation and delicious food at the Holiday Open House last week. Many guests said they enjoyed the festive event because they had the opportunity to meet and socialize with faculty and staff they had not had the chance to meet before.

The event was hosted by Charles Brown, James Malek, Abdul Nasser and Karen A. White.

>> See: Photo Gallery

I Am USF St. Petersburg: Rich Brody

With the winter holiday season in full swing, consumer fraud and purchasing scams are at a season high. Rich Brody, PhD, associate professor of accounting, is the ideal person to contact for practical advice to avoid these financial problems. As a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Fraud Examiner and a university professor, Brody has extensive real world and academic expertise to target and analyze deception. 

However, Brody came to USF St. Petersburg to incorporate another area of his expertise on campus: forensic accounting. Considered a pioneer in this emerging field, Brody started in May to create a new concentration in forensic accounting for the MBA Program in the College of Business.

“Forensic accounting,” Brody said, “is work performed with the expectation that there will be litigation.”  For example, Brody said forensic accountants may be contracted to find hidden assets or to evaluate business accounts in divorce cases. 

>> Read More

>> Read: Brody's Tips for Safe Holiday Shopping

December Blood Drive

The December Blood Drive is Wednesday, Dec. 15 from 8:30 am to 4 pm in front of FMRI. All donors will get a free ticket to the "Get Surreal" exhibit at the Dali Museum.

Volunteer at Downtown's New Years Eve Bash

Downtown St. Petersburg's New Years Eve arts celebration, First Night St. Pete, is looking for volunteers to help with music, dancing, and celebration venues. There are different shifts and a variety of opportunities available. Please call 727-823-8906 or visit www.firstnightstpete.org to receive a volunteer form.

Celebrate the Holidays at the Ronald McDonald House

USF St. Petersburg will prepare and serve dinner at the Ronald McDonald House Tuesday, Dec. 21.  Volunteers are needed to help prepare and serve the meal.  

The campus is also collecting supplies and small gifts to present to residents. For more information, contact Barry McDowell at 553-4990 or mcdowell@stpt.usf.edu.

>> See: List of Suggested Holiday Gifts

Meet Rocky, a Robot Squirrel

USF research assignment: Build a realistic robot that can fake out a wild animal. Undergraduates roll out Rocky.

St. Petersburg Times

Dec. 7, 2004

On a palm tree at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, a squirrel munches on an acorn. A few feet below, three students quietly assemble their equipment.

One keeps an eye on the squirrel. One sets up a videocamera. Another prepares the bait, a fake, Caddyshack- esque squirrel with a robotic tail.

If the tail is convincing enough, the squirrel in the tree may try to communicate with the robot on the ground. That could provide new clues about what it means when a squirrel bats its tail.

>> Read: Full Article

The Secret Life of Ants

Tampa Tribune

Dec. 7, 2004

Deby Cassill stages fire ant fights to the death.

After heads roll, the University of South Florida biologist adds more combatants. She's comfortable knowing that animal rights protesters won't circle her lab.

"Not only are they [people] not sympathetic, they hate them. They want them to die,'' she says.

Cassill may kill her ants, but she loves them. An ant researcher since 1988, the social behaviorist at USF St. Petersburg says ants can teach humans how to run a civilization.

They've also given her cause to disagree with established ant research and even dispute an assumption of the great Charles Darwin, developer of the theory of evolution.

>> Read: Full Article

USF St. Pete Plans First Dorm

Tampa Tribune

Dec. 3, 2004

The University of South Florida St. Petersburg got the go-ahead from trustees Thursday to build the school's first residence hall, meaning students at the rapidly growing school may be living on campus as early as fall 2006.

University of South Florida trustees unanimously approved the concept of a seven- story, $18 million dormitory with apartment-style space for 354 students.

They also gave their unanimous OK for a parking garage, another first for the campus, located in downtown St. Petersburg, where parking is at a premium.

>> Read: Full Article

Trustees Approve New Faculty Contract

St. Petersburg Times

Dec. 3, 2004

After nearly two years, the feud is finally, officially, over.

The University of South Florida Board of Trustees voted unanimously Thursday to approve a new contract with the faculty union that includes raises averaging 5 percent.

"We should really break out the champagne," said USF president Judy Genshaft. "This is a major, major accomplishment."

>> Read: Full Article

The USF St. Petersburg Calendar of Events can advertise to faculty, staff, students and the general public. Events may include lectures, conferences, ceremonies, concerts, sporting events, scholarship events, fundraising events and exhibits. 

Submit information at the central news form: http://www.stpt.usf.edu/news/submissions.htm.